Whoof Arted

2009-07-12T10:50:00.000-08:00

Seven foot tomato plants

2009-07-08T19:51:00.005-08:00

Make a lush greenhouse with the help of
shorter plants along the floor.

The look of my constructed spud box
may seem like something a North Fork
dweller would attach to their home,
but imagine the pile of spuds we
will have this fall.
i dunno how big the bottom
tubers are, yet. too chicken to look.

Mamma Wolf has such a green thumb
to have pulled off what looks like a very
productive crop of tomatoes, zucchini,
cucumbers, bell peppers, and even
got potato peels to sprout in her
compost bin! Tell me that ain't green!

The apple tree has small report this year.
I did not force germinate as in the past.
Good year for growth.

As far as current weather - Hot, more hot
and almost clear, open sky except
it is hazed with smoke of wildfire
and a light hint of city behind it.

May as well have
stayed by the fire at the HITW.

Calculating average MPH ...

2009-07-06T22:10:00.002-08:00

These two pics I call "Before" and "After".
The above is before us on the highway -
Turnagain Arm. The below is after us...
(zoom in at the far roadway)

The weekend of July 4th seems to bring
every vehicle (that runs) out to the highway
to travel, for sure, but I have never seen
so many cars backed up on the Seward
Highway as last night. No accident report
has been found to account for it, either.
(reprint brought to you by snow1 (thanks).)

Northbound traffic slowed to a halt about
mile 66 of the Seward Highway - just South
of the rest stops in "the pass". Considering
approximately 4 miles traveled in 50 minutes,
our average speed was around 5 MPH.
I think we had enough time to bond in
between the whining spurts from the back
seat(s) due to broken A/C (no cold holes).

heh, heh... their windows don't open...snick!..

Stranger things have happened

2009-06-23T22:21:00.004-08:00

My favorite Alaskan river still shows low numbers
of Chinook on a daily count. Maybe they're not
going to show up this year. Maybe they've gone
to an unknown underground river to spawn?
Imagine finding fish below the earth's surface.
Stranger things have happened in China.

Those who have been to the Hole In The Wall
Recreational Area are aware of the drainage sump
designed by the property owner, himself.

Maybe the Eagle has something with that
idea but hasn't been deep enough yet?

NO FISHING?!!

2009-06-17T05:27:00.003-08:00

Didn't get up at the crack of dawn to chase kings.
Sleeping in 'til 7 AM left energy for projects.

The bunks were sheeted to allow more floor space.
Although a simple design, built heck-for-stout.

The cistern stand was finished and the
underground tubing connected. Approx.
20 psi achieved in the pit.

Realizing the Anchor River was closed to all fishing,

it seemed appropriate to use the "reg's" for fire starter.

This weekend should be as productive, with time taken
for a Father's Day game - unless the river opens
miraculously, of course.

Conceptual tinkering

2009-06-07T10:15:00.000-08:00

The above electric hybrid vehicle - The Gym Concept -
has a very unique charging system. Beside the plug-in
charger, there is a generator connected to a workout
apparatus inside the cockpit which charges the system
while in use. Stay in shape and charge the car!

This jet-propelled "hover bike" is just a concept -
no prototype completed at this time but we can dream, right?

In cargo and delivery technology, this scooter promises
a load carried that is worthy of the compact design.

The most promising of new cargo vehicles is the CarGo.
It's versatility in transforming enables a variety of
positions for all cargo/space needs. It may not hold
a ton but can adjust for most residential and light
commercial package delivery needs - as well as find
a compact parking spot.

I suppose my biggest concern happens to be the
money that is spent on all these crazy ideas and
where it comes from when these projects of dreams
are funded.

If Mexican drug money would be appropriated for
developing useless technologies (instead of federal
dollars) we may still be able to provide reliable
transportation for our great grand kids.
You might be inclined to get me one of those hover bikes
for my nearing birthday, but I would settle for a CarGo
just to be reasonable.

been too long

2009-06-02T06:10:00.002-08:00

and we ride...see you at the HITW

2009-05-22T06:11:00.001-08:00

We don't rent pigs! (or birds)

2009-05-21T05:34:00.001-08:00

Two entities that keep track of different flus and viruses
that affect our fine country:

The U.S. WHO/NREVSS collaborating laboratories
(World Health Organization (WHO) and National Respiratory
and Enteric Virus Surveillance System (NREVSS))

"WHO" does that make "NERVOUS"?

Swine flu has taken a few people this year but, if
you look at past records, through the 1990's there
were (averaged) 36,000 deaths per year related
to flu viruses in the U.S., alone.
Most of these cases were not listed as importance
of a killer flu, but underlying health related
issues instead. If the flu gets me, I don't want that
listed in obituaries, mentioned as my weak demise,
or written on my tombstone, okay?

Frankly, I would rather be eaten by a bear.
Let's just hope the Peninsula Polar Pig virus
has run it's course before this weekend...

No color added - a naked sunset

2009-05-17T14:48:00.003-08:00

Apologies for the background noise as not being cut

This clip was made from a 17 minute video and sped
up dramatically. Feel free to mute it, but see it full screen.

An early spring, you say?

2009-05-17T08:50:00.003-08:00

April 23, 1993 had the earliest spring end which
recorded the last freezing temp for the summer.
On the flip side, June 8th in year 1919 had the
latest date of last freezing temperature for the
summer. I'm only stating records for the fine
Bowl of Anchorage, you understand. There are
a lot of charts, graphs, and files pertaining to
serious weather studies available online for
viewing current and past weather patterns.
What do they all mean? Where does our
current pattern fit in to these studies?
I HAVE NO IDEA!!
All I'm saying is, at this point, spring has
a very pretty ring and I have been enjoying
the hills and fields turning green at a fast pace.
Like they are super charged with this chemical:

(what is it - by the way of pop quiz?)

I suppose what I'm driving at is that we should
enjoy what warmth we are receiving from an
early onset of summer and get those plants in
the garden for what seemingly could be one
of the longest growing seasons our state has
seen in decades. If ever was a year to try
your luck at gardening, this be it.
Part of the reason I haven't been here much.

Heard a report, yesterday,

2009-05-09T11:12:00.000-08:00

about the size of the HITW hares this year.
Little did we know that previous pictures
posted by a reputable source failed to convey
the actual immensity of these beasts.

Fortunately, a couple of well known Lynx
were in the area recently and called to report
the current condition of the HITW as of last nite.
As rumor would have us believe, there may have
been extra-terrestrial influence in the region
and the wildlife seems to have been altered
in various ways. As the Lynx assured me that
the flavor of the genetically altered critter
was that of fine hassenpfeffer, no harm
seems to have come from this occurrence.

Although, the appearance of some
leaves me wondering what's next...

Don't let them take our cows!

2009-05-03T07:40:00.001-08:00

This web site is dedicated to saving
bovine everywhere. It seems to be a growing
concern among cattle farmers across the globe.

That should enforce the necessity of keeping
an eye on our livestock this year.

More than one sighting has been recorded at the
Hole In The Wall Recreational Area! This summer,
I plan to get video footage of the creature and maybe
capture it using these "how-to" directions and
prevent more bovine from disappearing.
This is not something that should be taken lightly!

Simple quiz to decide what to wear...

2009-04-29T19:43:00.002-08:00

...on No Pants Day this year!

You Should Wear JUST Boxers!
	Wow. Impressive. It takes a lot of balls to wear just boxers (especially for girls). But really, if you're going to go without pants, what difference does a shirt make? Find out which No Pants Day outfit YOU should wear! No Pants Day is May 1st, 2009. To find out more about No Pants Day, visit www.NoPantsDay.com

If I can keep from breaking it before then,

2009-04-26T11:00:00.000-08:00

This old/new toy will climb Anchor River

rapids on Memorial Day weekend.

Now I need to make some necessary repairs
to my 4x4 so I have something to launch it with.

Serious accusation

2009-04-25T10:07:00.000-08:00

In comment, I was accused of plagiarizing the
poem in the last post. Anyone who really knows
me would attest to the fact that poetry has always
been a part of who I am. My art is not limited to
pictures, alone, and I will continue to write poems
on occasion. At this point, my original works could
fill a book themselves but I expect fame for the
name long after death - as many artists.
Frankly, I would rather be censored.

Don't Copy Me

"You copied others' work," was said
by one who is accusing.
I simply write and post these rhymes
only for your musing.
It's rare I browse o'er many poems
because there is so many.
But I can't sit back and be accused
by one who hasn't written any.
Some of my poems can be found
out on the internet.
I've written many others which
have not been published yet.
If you have proof of copied verse
upon my personal page,
Let fact be shown of plagiarism
or enjoy and act your age.
You don't have to like my stuff
or read my every word,
But calling me a plagiarist is
really quite absurd.

john r mclay

In light of this, I will be adding a new section to
my "grande index" titled "My Poetry" in which
many of my poems and written works will be
listed - published, or not.

Has it really sprung?

2009-04-24T06:24:00.000-08:00

Unlike the last few years, our yard will not suffer

from the trauma of "Spring Soup" this thaw. A lot

of research and care have been paid to this problem
and solutions have been reached.

In the past, a lot of water shed and
long term problems have come from the yard
ice melting into the lawn causing scary, toxic soup
to form during the melt, enormous sink holes
forming after the melt, and divots to fill from all
the doggy "land mines" placed throughout the
winter season.

I did not make an ice rink this last
season. Although it was fun to make the last
few years, we are not waiting for that big
slab of ice to thaw and run into the neighbor's
garage - prodding me to siphon the liquid
around his place to the driveway via hose.

(the siphon)

(the driveway during drainage)

I don't even need the wife to
kick the last snowman's head in because he
melted already! I would like to say that I've
cleaned up the yard but the fact is I watched
the spring-loving Wife do it...
What month is it?! Maybe "The Goracle" was
right about all this warming trend business.
It seems the temperature IS rising at a steady,
alarming rate! In fact, the entire northern
hemisphere seems to be gaining temperature
unlike we have seen for months!

It was the strangest thing
The birds were taking wing
The snow is mostly melted now
And they begin to sing.

I guess it stands to reason -
The changing of a season
I will accept this warming trend
Regardless of the teasin'.

I see that ice on streams is thin,
I've witnessed geese and ducks fly in,
The earth is thawing as I write.
The fleeting winter's ice won't win.

It seems to be coming back around,
Growing grass and warming ground,
The garden will be planted soon
With summer's mighty heat and sound.

Spreading out some dormant seed,
For summer's growing call to heed,
The greenhouse calls for plants to grow
And, soon, we'll have to weed.

Just yesterday I heard birds sing
Of longer days and taking wing
Ice has melted near away
I think it must be spring.

john r mclay

2009-04-15T09:24:00.001-08:00

"Why does Sea World have a seafood restaurant? I'm halfway
through my fishburger and I realize, Oh my God....
I could be eating a slow learner."
~~Lynda Montgomery~~

New information posted in "classified" section of
The Grande Index

Now I'm just irritated.

2009-04-14T11:50:00.000-08:00

I reserve the right to allow, disallow and/or censor
any comment, link, statement or viewing pertaining
to this site, or any other I am administrator of at any
time - without notification.
Chances are that I have a sense of humor and would take
a lot of abusive treatment and comments before actually
considering black-balling anyone from looking at this site.
Just look at the way family talks to me! And I like it!
Some sites (previously mentioned in a post) do not share
my open-mindedness toward humor. After being
completely disallowed from entering, viewing and even
emailing the administrator of that specific site,
my feathers are ruffled, my panties in a twist, and I
feel as if I was unjustly censored. Here is a letter I
wrote to that specific site's administrator:

Attn: site administrator

In a momentary thought of website comedy, I recently
posted an ad that may have offended someone or misused
this list for what it was intended. In a sincere apology, I
would like access to your page to search items and, maybe,
post some items for sale. I have seen many other ads that
contain(ed) offensive material and have not been flagged -
leave aside ousted completely. In an effort to explain
my use of your site ;
http://psychology.suite101.com/article.cfm/psychology_light

Once again, I apologize for using your site to inflict humor
on the web. In the worst case scenario, a lot of viewers and
followers of my site would have visited your site - increasing
traffic - and done some browsing. There are a lot of people
not aware of your online services and just providing a
link to you from my page is free advertising and
50 more hits a day can't hurt - right? Now that I am aware
of the intense seriousness of this site, I will not afflict
humor on any of your viewers again. In the future, I vow
to be straight forward and to the point.

Sincerely,

J D Plumma
Administrator of : Whoof Arted
(http://whoofarted.blogspot.com/)

Polite - right?!
This is what "snapped" into my inbox within one second
after hitting send :

Your message was automatically rejected by
Sieve, a mail filtering language.
The following reason was given: This server does
not accept messages from nut job, Craigzombies.

Isn't that just name-calling and slanderous? How do
they know I'm a nut job - let alone a "craig-zombie"?!
Nut job wouldn't be difficult to back up with the family
I keep, but it cannot be assumed that my name is Craig
or that I am a zombie! Ludicrous accusations!
It's not that I expected them to accept this apology 100%
favorably, but I didn't expect my letter to the administrator
to already be blocked before it was sent. When they said,
"Please contact the site administrator if you have any questions.",
I really expected to be able to contact them at the least.
At this point, I don't expect to be allowed there again (ever),
but to play fair about things - how did my written, assumed
humorous piece actually harm or offend anyone? (and)
how can any reputable entity create slander, call names
and not allow questions (as stated) or an apology?

maybe it just isn't funny

(names of particular entities were not mentioned here
to avoid offense, slander and childish name calling)

Censorship on the web

2009-04-12T10:45:00.000-08:00

With a link (or, two) in the last post, leading to
a farse advertisement to sell a slightly used trunk
monkey, I was flagged and removed from one of
my favorite classified ad pages - Craiglist. Then, I
posted an ad in another web list - Alaskaslist - and
am, now, totally disallowed from that site, stating :

"You have been blocked from using the site for suspected
improper usage. Please contact the site administrator
if you have any questions."

I suppose that - being a considerably hard decision -
choosing the right ad section the first time would have
worked out just fine without being censored.

Or, maybe I should have used
a different site that was intended for this kind
of humor (where browsers have a sense of humor).
Regardless, I was censored!! To start with, this was
not meant to be serious! Those who chose
not to click any links on the post probably missed the
ad and the humor of the trunk monkey statements.
Some may be wary of "linking" due to viruses and
ad-ware contracted probably due to bad antivirus
software or just settings missed to block such.
The last post was about web site tracking and the
safety therein, but that monkey was funny stuff!
Many (or all) of you might think I just ramble on
about the crazy, ADHD thoughts that cross my
mind, but the reality of the matter is that I spend
a bit of time researching, re-write and edit a bit
and cram a lot of effort into what I think might
entertain the ordinary, mindless blogger so they
feel as if their time was not wasted here. We all
know it really was, but thanks.
If you did miss the seemingly insignificant links
on the last post, and maybe others, all of my
links are a different color than the writing and
change colors when cursor "hovers" them.
The heading or, title, of the post is likely to
be a link, also.

Link to Trunk Monkey here ---> link

Link to the final ad placement here ---> link

...maybe it just wasn't funny...

Why I have a site tracker :

2009-04-11T09:51:00.004-08:00

I think it is because I like the attention is all.
There are other useful factors to a tracker as well.
I can view where, when and how you came
to waste your time with this opinionated BS
and I have means to know who sent you!

Then, is it really wise to know who looks at
this twisted, neurotic site every day?
Maybe I don't want to know the weirdos.

At this point,
I've only tracked 3 (three) web addresses
to established insane asylums and 6 more to jails.
I could block those, but I like it when old friends drop by!
That's only 20 percent! The rest are sharp,
upstanding US citizens, I'm sure!
Sometimes It surprises me that more comments
aren't left by "anonymous" (i know where you
live!) visitors - or is that a reserved blogger
handle for that one, special commentor?
It might actually freak me out if I started
getting comments like, "I've been web-stalking
you for the last 6 months and would like to meet
up somewhere while I'm in LA...". eek! hide!
they can't find out I'm really a 1080 lb, 72 year old,
pedophile shut-in that traps the neighbor's cats for
food and clothing! ...better hide the bodies...
It's not that I don't trust people or that I am
a nervous person that has to watch his back,
I just want you to know that I am watching you, too..

The counter simply helps me keep track of people
who frequently visit this page such as family, friends
and web stalkers like "Mike" or "Diane"!
(I know where you live, too!)
If you are looking for a simple tracker, try the
link by mine at the (bottom). Or, "browse" the
subject to find and learn about more
extensive tracking sites and options.

If the stats on your counter have you nervous outside the
home, maybe you need a trunk monkey to guard the car
when you're out and about or in the store then
you won't worry about watching your back.
If the cost of a new one is extravagant,

Check here for a used one for sale!

(this link has changed due to cancellation of accessibility by
my person to their page(s) and/or web site and, also, censorship)
TRY HERE

Spell Checker

2009-04-09T06:13:00.004-08:00

Eye halve a spelling checker;
It came with my pea sea.

It plainly marks four my revue,
Miss steaks eye kin knot sea.

Eye strike a key and type a word,
And weight four it two say,
Weather eye am wrong oar write;
It shows me strait a weigh.

As soon as a mist ache is maid,
It nose bee fore two long.
And eye can put the error rite;
Its rare lea ever wrong.

Eye have run this poem threw it;
I am shore your pleased two no,
Its letter perfect awl the weigh.
My spell checker tolled me sew!

~author unknown~

If you don't pay your exorcist can you get repossessed?

2009-04-07T06:53:00.004-08:00

As the stimulus dollars "engorge" our fine country,
new jobs have been created to man building and
road projects. A lot of these marked projects are
not really warranted due to necessity but, rather,
for the show. The way the dollars are being doled
out has more to do with our big production (show)
for the world than it does with supplying the jobs
with the right tools of the trade.

It all sounds great! New jobs! Yay! Where are the
tools with which to do all these newly planned projects?
We should be sure that wooden nickles get distributed
to each and every citizen also. If we buy a 10,000 lot
at a time, the cost is only $.0819 apiece! Then we just
need to design a system to spend them on something!
Just about Anything! Our US dollars will fail sooner
than later and we'll need a back-up plan...

For those not ready to go the long road and face the
consequences of our country's action, I'm afraid
that juicing would be the only other way out.

Our great grandkids will have the money for rent...

...right?

Trouble understanding speeches?

2009-04-06T06:09:00.005-08:00

I have some serious trouble with speeches. The
current President's, especially.

Not that I don't
understand the point that is being made, but the
patience to wallow through the worded sentences,
pick out the meaningful words that pertain to
the subject at hand and make sense of it without
being a thought confusing grandeur of American
English proves a task that eludes many. Some
just turn off the "understander" and take a na p.

I ran across (or, stumbled upon) something, yesterday,
that might help you get to the root of any winded
speech without daydreaming or snoozing through it's
entirety. To my surprise, a program called the
"automatic text summarizer"
is, in my book, a very creative, insightful design
allowing any ordinary ADHD citizen to actually
cut all the pork out of speeches - leaving just the
basic points and facts to be considered.
To not get too wordy, here is a link to one of
President Obama's speeches in it's entirety :

~His acceptance speech~
(to the elcted Presidency)

Although Sen. John McCain speaks more "simply pu t",
his speeches could use a trimming as well.

Here's what to do :
Copy all (or, a large portion) of one of these, or any,
speech you have little patience for listening to and
copy into the box of THIS PROGRAM. It has a six
sentence minimum. You may be surprised
at how easy the speech is to understand and follow
without all the flowery filling. I tested this on a
verbose web site that I follow.

Here is the original writing by the author.
(used without his consent)

The summarized version :

"I came across an article tonight posted on the Internet by Yahoo News.
The title was "100 Movies To See Before You Die".
Keeping in mind, the genres of movies that I enjoy I was really disappointed that only one of John Wayne's movies made the list, "The Searchers".
A good classic, "Bonnie and Clyde" made the list, it was a good movie for the time.
After they watched "Bonnie and Clyde", I took the movie, projector, and screen home.
We had a house party with several friends and had a great time watching Clyde and his machine gun...."

Try this summarizer the next time you fall asleep during
a speech and I'm sure you will have an easier time following it!
If only books would be available in a "summarized"
version, I would do a lot more (or, some) reading!

I love bacon!! Have I said that before?

2009-04-04T08:03:00.007-08:00

I'm just not sure what to think about our
country's pork. I would expect - while digging
through the pork barrel - one would find all
kinds of things aside from pork and a few things
that may be disguised as bacon that just aren't.

Then, you may even find it flavored strawberry...
As our leader stated, "...We are like a patient in
critical care. Some of the wounds have been
mended, but a lot of healing needs to take place..."
Does that sound like another "toss a trillion to
the pool" speech in the making? No, silly.
He always talks like that. I think he is hoping to
"coin" a few new phrases every time he gets
behind that podium but is making little sense
with his euphemisms.
He should be speaking in more simple English
as his sought-after comparison, Abe Lincoln.

It took the last administration 8 years to double
our deficit. This was/is a playing card for the new.
It's good to know the new guys are more efficient
in the fact that it only took two months to double it
again! Are they saying that the last administration
wasn't frivolous enough instead of too spend-thrifty
as before claimed? What sense doe this make?
All of our leaders know that, with the new monies,
comes responsibility to continue funding the new
entities (ie ; unemployment, education, welfare)
from this point forward. Some leaders wished to pay
their own state's debts with the new stimulus
instead of making more government, but are refused
by Congressional law(s). BRAVO to them!
BULLY to our fine White house and Congress!

Maybe it's high time for little guys to stand up
to the powers that be and speak out against the
extremely wasteful spending and credit?
Some leaders have actually taken a stand.

Here is some forethought from Abe that should
be considered before comparing ANY current leader to him :

"I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves
 me and causes me to tremble for the safety of my country; 
corporations have been enthroned, an era of corruption in
High Places will follow, and the Money Power of the Country
will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the
prejudices of the People, until the wealth is
aggregated in a few hands, and the Republic is destroyed."

~Abraham Lincoln~

....(gulp) destroyed?....

The elephant of depression wants to run!!
All of the new stimulus dollars and worldly
riches in America would fill the
largest hole in the world!
(Russian diamond mine)

What we really own as a country would fit in a common
toilet. Let's hope our leaders don't have the gumption to flush.


"When you have got an elephant by the hind leg, and he is
trying to run away, it's best to let him run."
~Abraham Lincoln~

____Whoof Arted____